President Barack Obama thanked Chinese President Xi Jinping for China’s role in securing the nuclear deal with Iran.

The White House said Obama and Xi spoke on the telephone Monday, the same day the U.N. Security Council unanimously endorsed the deal.

U.S. President Barack Obama (L) and China’s President Xi Jinping listen to national anthems behind a U.S. flag during a welcoming ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, November 12, 2014. REUTERS/Petar Kujundzic

China is a permanent member of the Security Council and was part of the group of five Security Council members plus the EU that negotiated the deal with Iran. The Security Council resolution also approved a provision to automatically reinstate sanctions if Iran cheats. The U.S. had been concerned China or Russia might be reluctant to go along.

The White House said Obama and Xi agreed cooperation between the U.S. and China is critical to the deal’s implementation.

Xi reportedly said that the China-U.S. relationship was at “a good momentum” at present and the two sides have cooperated closely on major regional and global issues.

Xi also hailed a high-level strategic dialogue held in Washington last month, and urged the two countries to further promote mutual understanding and people-to-people exchanges. During the talks last month, which were described as “frank” and “candid,” Beijing and Washington signed over 70 agreements, covering issues like climate change, denuclearization, rapid response to humanitarian disasters and combating international bribery.

The two leaders also discussed the newly-reached Iran nuclear agreement, acknowledging the joint efforts to reach the deal.

Xi said China will continue constructive cooperation with United States and other parties to ensure the implementation of the deal. He added that the deal is another example showing that two countries are committed to build a new model of major country relations.

Xi plans to visit the White House in September, his first state visit to the United States.

Obama said that he and the American people are looking forward to Xi’s state visit in September, and he hopes the two countries will engage in close consultation to make sure the visit is fruitful.

Story compiled with information from the Associated Press and CCTV News.

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